Virtuous Relating

These last several weeks have been hectic with preparations for our son’s wedding and the start-up of a new school year, but it’s good to be back.

The wedding was special for my wife and me as it was the first among our three sons. We were blessed with a warm August day (tucked between scorcher and cool days) for the outdoor wedding. I have never seen my son so happy nor his bride so beautiful. Their loving vows, hopeful hearts, and faithful commitment made me think of Paul’s love chapter in I Corinthians.

There he warns us that fine-sounding speech, ramped-up knowledge, and super-spirituality amount to nothing if we fumble on love.

That truth brings conviction to a professor like me at a Christian university: I’m paid to be articulate, know lots, and integrate faith into my curriculum. I wouldn’t want my students to grow thick of brain yet thin of heart. I hope I’m loving too.

Along these lines, the tale is told of Henry and Margaret who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. During the program the guests were allowed to ask questions of the couple to gain nuggets of marital wisdom. Someone stood up and asked, “Henry and Margaret, if you could go back and do anything differently in your married life, what would it be?”

The two looked at each other, and then Margaret answered, “Well…I would have Henry tell me he loved me a whole lot more.” Everyone got quiet and turned their eyes on Henry.

Henry stood up, adjusted his tie, and said, “Margaret, you’ve known I loved you, because the day we got married in 1966 I told you so, even twice if I recall. If I had ever changed my mind, I would have let you know!”

Answer: yes. Telling my wife I love her is music to her ears and also a boost to my love for her.

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Bill Strom, Author

I am a believer by faith, a professor by vocation, a husband by choice, a father by blessing, and a friend by hanging out. Along the way I have learned about close relating through my experiences, biblical models, and social science research. Hopefully my ideas and encouragement show up here in ways meaningful to you.